?"

"Oh, yes, I know _him_. Nearly the only man about town that I do know."

Barbara seemed lost in a puzzled reverie, and it was some time before
she aroused herself from it.

"Are they at all alike?" she asked.

"Very much so, I suspect. Both bad men."

"But I meant in person."

"Not in the least. Except that they are both tall."

Again Barbara sank into thought. Richard's words had surprised her. She
was aroused by it from hearing a child's voice in the next room. She ran
into it, and Miss Carlyle immediately fastened the intervening door.

It was little Archibald Carlyle. Joyce had come in with the tray to lay
the luncheon, and before she could lock the door, Archibald ran in after
her. Barbara lifted him in her arms to carry him back to the nursery.

"Oh, you heavy boy!" she exclaimed.

Archie laughed. "Wilson says that," he lisped, "if ever she has to carry
me."

"I have brought you a truant, Wilson," cried Barbara.

"Oh, is it you, Miss Barbara? How are you, miss? Naughty boy!--yes, he
ran away without my noticing him--he is got now so that he can open the
door."

"You must be so kind as to keep him strictly in for to-day," concluded
Miss Barbara, authoritatively. "Miss Carlyle is not well, and cannot be
subjected to the annoyance of his running into the room."

Evening came, and the time of Richard's departure. It was again snowing
heavily, though it had ceased in the middle of the day. Money for the
present had been given to him; arrangements had been discussed. Mr.
Carlyle insisted upon Richard's sending him his address, as soon as he
should own one to send, and Richard faithfully promised. He was in very
low spirits, almost as low as Barbara, who could not conceal her tears;
they dropped in silence on her pretty silk dress. He was smuggled down
the stairs, a large cloak of Miss Carlyle's enveloping him, into the
room he had entered by storm the previous night. Mr. Carlyle held the
window open.

"Good-bye, Barbara dear. If ever you should be able to tell my mother of
this day, say that my chief sorrow was not to see her."

"Oh, Richard!" she sobbed forth, broken-hearted, "good-bye. May God be
with you and bless you!"

"Farewell, Richard," said Miss Carlyle; "don't you be fool enough to get
into any more scrapes."

Last of all he rung the hand of Mr. Carlyle. The latter went outside
with him for an instant, and their leave-taking was alone.

Barbara returned to the chamber he had quitted